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WARNING: The entire content of this Property Handbook has been prepared by members of PLATO.  It has been carefully checked, but its accuracy cannot be guaranteed, neither at the date of preparation nor when viewed or printed.  Accordingly, neither the members of PLATO nor the United Reformed Church can accept responsibility for the accuracy of the information the handbook contains.

 

Grants & Loans from the Church Buildings Fund

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Grants and loans may be sought by local churches from a number of sources, such as local authority, government or European funding, English Heritage and other conservation bodies, various trust bodies, from the wider councils of the Church itself (District Council, Synod, Assembly) and the Council for World Mission.

In some cases, it may be possible to obtain further information from your Synod Office.

This section deals only with applications for support from the United Reformed Church Buildings Fund, which is now administered by the Mission Council Grants & Loans Group.

The Church Buildings Fund exists for the upkeep, repair, improvement and extension of church buildings, and the provision and erection of church and manse buildings of the URC.  Application forms and guidance notes may be obtained from your Synod Office.  Applications must come with the support of your Synod, and in some cases the Synod may be able to provide financial assistance itself, thus saving the Church Buildings Fund for more needy cases.

 

Assistance takes one or more of the following forms:

 

·      Grants for provision of facilities for disabled people, of up to 50% or £5,000, for projects costing over £1,000.

 

·      Grants for feasibility studies (regarding both buildings and the ‘mission’ of a local church), of up to 50% or £1,000.

 

·      Loans for major building work, of up to 50% or £75,000, for projects costing over £30,000.

 

·      Loans for professional consultants’ fees, of up to 100% or £25,000.

 

Normally, financial information, such as the last year’s accounts, should accompany an application.  Currently, applications are considered twice a year, in May and December, although time must also be allowed for their prior consideration at Synod level.  Grants and loans must be claimed within the 12 months following the decision to award them, after which it would be necessary to apply for a time extension.